As Teacher

With the blessings of her Gurus, Anupama has donned the role of a teacher on various occasions. She formally started her academy Vidya Vardhini Fine Arts Academy in 2018, in a bid to spread our rich cultural heritage by propagating the classical art forms and sharing the knowledge she has gained, and continues to gain, through the years.

Over the years, Vidya Vardhini has grown in strength and now trains over 50 students across various levels and age groups, spread across the world in different geographies and time zones. Some of them also give stage performances. Anupama has instituted a faculty team to help train the students – classes happen in batches or individually, depending on the level of learning, geography and age group. They follow a structured learning plan which ensures good quality of learning Carnatic music in a student-friendly step by step manner. While focus is initially given on the basic swara exercises, following tradition, the students are also taught small bhajans, devotional songs and nottuswarams alongside, in order to engage the students’ interest and have a fulfilling all-round learning experience, especially for beginners.

For the advanced learners, complex keerthanams and a variety of varnams are taught side by side, while also inculcating manodharma or creativity in the form of Raga Alapana, Neraval, Swaram and Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi training. Students at Vidya Vardhini are also encouraged to participate in various live events, concerts, competitions and online events in order to encourage and keep them motivated.

As a Bharatanatyam teacher, Anupama assists her Guru Smt. Geetha Venkateswar in her role as faculty at Bharatanatya Kalalaya Mumbai. She also trains students during their arangetram preparation and helps her Guru in choreography, nattuvangam and as a vocalist for stage performances. Anupama is also an integral part of various stage productions, dance dramas and dance tours with her Guru, where she also helps train and guide other students.

YouTube Links to student performances

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Guru Purnima online performance by Vidya Vardhini students:
Saraswathi Namostute by Anupama Devarajan with Varshaa Narain:
Rama Bhakta Hanuman by Vidya Vardhini students:
Shri Vighna Rajam by Vidya Vardhini for Suswara Sangeeta Vedika:

BNK Mumbai-Vidya Vardhini collaboration for Hanuman Chalisa:

Shivashtakam by BNK Mumbai (music arrangement & vocals by Anupama Devarajan):